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He’s ex-military?
In the photo, Hope was in the process of putting Alex’s peaked cap on her head, but all Jack could see were the rows of medals on Alex’s chest. He also wore two large pins above and below them. Jack turned his gaze to the couple, and both wore identical stunned smiles.
Patti raised a hand to her ample breast. “Just look at you two. Oh, Robert. That is amazin’!”
Hope finally found her voice. “It really is. Thank you so much.”
In the picture, Hope and Alex gazed at each other like nothing else existed in the universe. Jack had to admit it was an incredible portrait.
“You like it, then?” Robert beamed at their bewildered nods. “I knew I got a great photo when you two did this. I just needed to sort through them to find the perfect one.”
“Great job, Robert,” Jack said.
Patti drew herself upright, her natural confidence obvious to all. “This is goin’ in the lobby. Front and center, next to the staff photos.” Alex and Hope opened their mouths, but Patti pointed at them. “Don’t you two argue with me! If you want one for your house, we’ll have another made. I’m claimin’ this one.”
Alex grinned. “Ok, it’s yours. I learned recently that arguing with women is not a good idea.” Hope dug her elbow into his side, and he laughed.
Jack had already learned Patti was a force to be reckoned with. The gears turning in her head were almost visible, and Jack couldn’t resist a smile as she pointed at Hope. “Underneath this, let’s hang a framed copy of your magazine cover. It’s perfect.”
Hope turned to Alex with a faint smile. “And maybe we can hang another article too?”
Alex’s smile faded, but he met her gaze.
“We’re a team, remember?” Hope asked.
He hesitated for a long moment before saying, “Ok.” He turned to Patti. “Boss Lady wants to frame my article and hang it too.”
Jack had no idea what was going on, but he didn’t interrupt as tears filled Patti’s eyes. “I’m very happy to hear you say that, Alex.” Then she blinked several times, pulling herself together before patting Robert’s shoulder. “Come on, then. Pack all this up and let’s head to the lobby. We can decide where it goes, and I’ll have Tommy hang it tomorrow.”
Robert soon had the photo packaged up and Patti herded him out of the dive shop. Jack turned to Alex. “I didn’t know you were in the Navy.”
“Yeah. For over eighteen years.”
“Pretty impressive medal collection, man.”
A long look passed between him and Hope, and she gave him a tiny nod. He turned back to Jack, his expression serious. “I was a SEAL. It’s not something I talk much about. I didn’t keep it from you on purpose—it’s not something that comes up in normal conversation. But a newspaper article came out earlier this year that talked all about it, so it’s kind of common knowledge now. Though I wish otherwise.”
Jack tried to keep his face neutrally interested. Holy shit! A SEAL? No wonder those two guys in the bar split when he showed up. And Mark’s cryptic comment after the near fight made sense now too.
Some of his expression must have escaped, because Hope explained. “We had some trouble with an employee last fall. Charles pulled a gun and Alex had to disarm him, but got shot in the process. There was a trial, and he was sentenced to twenty years in prison. It was quite a news item on the island.”
“I bet.”
Alex still had his arm around Hope, but now he stood stiffly, his discomfort evident. Clearly there was more to the story, but Alex didn’t want to talk about it.
“Well, I’m done for the day, so I’ll head out,” Jack said. “See you in a couple of days.”
As Jack passed the bar on the way to his Ranger, he had to laugh at himself as the memory of the almost-bar fight came back to him. “Good thing I didn’t ask Alex if he knew how to fight.” Driving home, Jack concluded that maybe Half Moon Bay Resort wasn’t always the peaceful oasis he had assumed it was.
* * *
Once home, Jack headed for his patio. The sun was nearing the horizon, and the palette of pink and lavender sky called to him. He ambled toward the small private beach behind the complex. The colors arced above him, nature’s beauty on full display as he walked barefoot on the sand.
A woman stood facing away from him, applying a brush to a white canvas propped on an easel. He crossed to her, surprise growing when he recognized Sara. She was painting the sunset and ocean before them in vivid watercolors, and she clearly had talent. “I can see why you were inspired to paint. This is a pretty spectacular sunset.”
She squeaked and whirled around, her long hair flying. “You scared the hell out of me, Jack!”
Heat spread across his cheeks. Jeez, I can’t do anything right, can I? “Sorry. I should have made some noise.”
